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Installation

Section titled “Installation”

AutoPrintFarm is a cloud-based SaaS platform, so there’s no software to install on your computer. However, you’ll need to set up connections to your 3D printers.

System Requirements

Section titled “System Requirements”

Network Requirements

Section titled “Network Requirements”
  • Stable internet connection (minimum 5 Mbps recommended)
  • Local network access to your 3D printers
  • Open ports for printer communication (configurable)

Supported Printer Firmware

Section titled “Supported Printer Firmware”
  • OctoPrint (1.3.0 or higher)
  • Klipper with Moonraker
  • Duet RepRapFirmware
  • Marlin (via USB connection)

Browser Compatibility

Section titled “Browser Compatibility”
  • Chrome 90+ (recommended)
  • Firefox 88+
  • Safari 14+
  • Edge 90+

Setting Up Printer Connections

Section titled “Setting Up Printer Connections”
Section titled “Option 1: Cloud Connection (Recommended)”

The easiest way to connect your printers is through our secure cloud bridge:

  1. Install the AutoPrintFarm Bridge on a computer or Raspberry Pi on your local network
  2. The Bridge automatically discovers compatible printers
  3. Authorize printers from your dashboard
  4. Start printing!

Installing the Bridge

Section titled “Installing the Bridge”

Linux/Raspberry Pi:

Terminal window
curl -fsSL https://get.autoprintfarm.com/bridge | sh

Windows: Download the installer from autoprintfarm.com/downloads

macOS:

Terminal window
brew install autoprintfarm-bridge

Option 2: Direct Connection

Section titled “Option 2: Direct Connection”

For printers with public IPs or if you prefer direct connection:

  1. Ensure your printer is accessible from the internet
  2. Configure firewall rules to allow incoming connections
  3. Add printer manually using public IP/domain
  4. Enable API access on your printer

Network Configuration

Section titled “Network Configuration”

Firewall Rules

Section titled “Firewall Rules”

If you’re using direct connection, you may need to configure your firewall:

  • OctoPrint: TCP port 80 or 443
  • Moonraker: TCP port 7125
  • AutoPrintFarm Bridge: Outbound HTTPS (443)

Local Network Discovery

Section titled “Local Network Discovery”

The AutoPrintFarm Bridge uses mDNS for local printer discovery. Ensure your network allows:

  • UDP port 5353 (mDNS)
  • UDP port 8612 (AutoPrintFarm Bridge discovery)

Security Best Practices

Section titled “Security Best Practices”
  1. Use HTTPS: Always access AutoPrintFarm over HTTPS
  2. Strong passwords: Use unique, strong passwords for printer APIs
  3. API key rotation: Regularly rotate your API keys
  4. Network segmentation: Consider placing printers on a separate VLAN
  5. Update firmware: Keep printer firmware up to date

Troubleshooting Installation

Section titled “Troubleshooting Installation”

Bridge Won’t Connect

Section titled “Bridge Won’t Connect”

If the AutoPrintFarm Bridge won’t connect:

  1. Check internet connectivity
  2. Verify firewall settings allow outbound HTTPS
  3. Ensure system time is correct (required for SSL)
  4. Check logs: autoprintfarm-bridge logs

Printers Not Discovered

Section titled “Printers Not Discovered”

If printers aren’t being discovered:

  1. Verify printers are on the same network as the Bridge
  2. Check that mDNS is enabled on your network
  3. Manually add printers using IP addresses
  4. Ensure printer APIs are enabled and accessible

Connection Drops Frequently

Section titled “Connection Drops Frequently”

For unstable connections:

  1. Check network stability with ping tests
  2. Verify sufficient bandwidth
  3. Consider using wired connections instead of WiFi
  4. Check for network congestion during peak times

Next Steps

Section titled “Next Steps”

Once installation is complete: